WASP-127 b
WASP-127 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting WASP-127 in the constellation Sextans. It lies about 520 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is WASP-127 b?
WASP-127 b has a radius of 14.69 times that of Earth, or 1.31 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 52.3 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.10 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is WASP-127 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-127 b relative to the habitable zone of WASP-127 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on WASP-127 b — one full orbit around WASP-127 — lasts 4.18 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.048 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was WASP-127 b Discovered?
WASP-127 b was discovered in 2016 using the transit method, with observations from SuperWASP.
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is WASP-127 b?
WASP-127 b is 520.2 light-years (159.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1506. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 9,155,520 years to make the journey.
Earth Similarity Index
The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) scores how physically similar a planet is to Earth, from 0 to 1, based on radius, density, escape velocity and surface temperature. WASP-127 b scores 0.06, ranking #5,103 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-127
WASP-127 b belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits WASP-127.
WASP-127
- Mass
- 0.95 M☉
- Radius
- 1.33 R☉
Planetary System
WASP-127 b is the only planet known to orbit WASP-127 so far.
WASP-127 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 14.695 Earth radii (1.311 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 52.35 Earth masses (0.165 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.10 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 4.18 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.048 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.06 |
| Distance from Earth | 520.2 light-years (159.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Sextans |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-11-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-127 b
Is WASP-127 b habitable?
WASP-127 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-127, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-127 b?
WASP-127 b is about 520 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sextans. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 9,155,520 years to get there.
How big is WASP-127 b compared to Earth?
WASP-127 b has 14.69 times the radius of Earth and about 52.3 times its mass.
How long is a year on WASP-127 b?
One orbit around WASP-127 takes 4.2 Earth days — short enough that 87 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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